tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71956132908882845542024-03-18T21:53:02.992-07:00Laurel's Open Page...A blog about books,
life, or whatever
is on my mindLaurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-19819792715260102402017-11-04T19:11:00.002-07:002017-11-09T06:37:57.597-08:00Skiing: My Fiction Versus My Reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXic6vVhsJ2rOvkRvNZ1BpJgm3faCu0nimPppEfKw4A33m3btkYq93-JwKUi_KQ210pxqwKJdHoCWdE-NFkjY9BGYXVE9l3-sHYUflOojtIz3IFqH5t3JgTubFZ58daDT9FSlNqoERCtQ/s1600/shutterstock_323336777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXic6vVhsJ2rOvkRvNZ1BpJgm3faCu0nimPppEfKw4A33m3btkYq93-JwKUi_KQ210pxqwKJdHoCWdE-NFkjY9BGYXVE9l3-sHYUflOojtIz3IFqH5t3JgTubFZ58daDT9FSlNqoERCtQ/s320/shutterstock_323336777.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In <i>Just Like the
Brontë Sisters</i>, sisters Jo Beth and Skylar are both expert skiers. I am NOT
an expert skier. However, I like to follow that adage, <i>write about what you know</i>, and I do know a little something about skiing.
I do have some real-life experience. But how does my skiing reality compare to my skiing fiction?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>I did not grow up in a Colorado ski town but
am I <i>sort of</i> from Colorado.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Jo Beth and Skylar grew up in the
fictional town of Black Diamond, CO. They spent every free moment hitting the slopes,
and their peers were mostly ski rats. I grew up in Lawrence, Kansas. I spent
most of my free time participating in local theater or dance productions, and
my friends were all kids of faculty members from KU.<o:p></o:p></div>
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How does that make me “sort of”
from Colorado? Well, my mom’s family (my aunts, uncles, etc.) all lived in
Colorado as I was growing up. They still do. For the last twenty years, my mom and stepdad have lived in
Boulder as well. So, I’ve spent a lot of
summers and Christmases out there, and I since I no longer have any ties to
Kansas, Colorado feels like a second home. Plus, I’ve
lived in Colorado for months at a time. Which leads me to my next point…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>I am not an expert skier, but I did work as
a ski-lift operator.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Both Skylar and Jo Beth can race
down slopes, fly over moguls, and carve tracks like they were born with skis
attached to their baby booties. Not me. I haven’t been skiing for years, but
there was a time when I was halfway decent (but only if you compare to someone with no athletic ability or skiing experience.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I need a lot of time to pick up
physical skills. But at one point in my life, I had time and opportunity to
learn to ski. You see, when I was a senior in college, some reps from the ski
resort in Crested Butte, Colorado, visited campus to recruit people to come
work as lift operators. I went and got hired. I was about to graduate with a
degree in theater, so a job working at a ski resort was probably as good a prospect
as I could hope for. </div>
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I thought I was signing up for a romantic adventure. Now,
when I look back on those months of employment, I remember a little bit of
romantic adventure, but mostly I recall frozen toes and the feeling of not
really fitting in. The other ski lift operators gave me a nickname: the librarian.
This was because I wasn’t didn't enjoy going out and getting drunk, and I used my
evenings to stay in and read. Plus, I wasn’t a great skier when I began working
there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I finished, I also wasn’t a
great skier. But I had graduated from green slopes to blue. I even tried one
black slope, inching my way around moguls instead of over them. I did learn to
keep my skis parallel, which I was proud of. And I can still remember that feeling
of control plus speed, with the wind rushing past me, and feeling at one with
the snow and the mountain. That feeling didn’t come often, but it was powerful
enough to remember and to write about.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>I have never competed in the Olympics, but
I love watching them.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Both Skylar and Jo Beth are the stars of their high school ski teams. I
don’t want to give away too much of the story, but at least one of them goes on
to compete in the Olympics. I think it’s safe to say I will NEVER be an Olympic
athlete. That non-existent window of opportunity has passed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yet I do love to workout. No, that’s not the same as being in the
Olympics, but I’m addicted to the rush I get from my morning run or from a really
good exercise routine. And while I’m not a sports fan, I adore watching the
winter Olympics. It’s so cool that all the events center around snow and ice. The
figure skating is always fun, but my true loves are the skiing events: the bells that the spectators ring, the biopics they show of the athletes, the suspense over
who will get down the slope the fastest. I suppose it all reminds me of my
brief flirtation with the world of skiing, so I feel vicariously cool, sitting
on my couch with a box of cereal, wearing my flannel pajama pants while cheering
on Bode Miller.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think one of the best parts of writing fiction is wish fulfillment. I can give my characters the success and
glamorous background that I never had. Another great thing about fiction
writing is taking memories and molding them into something new and exciting.
That’s what I did with skiing in <i>Just
Like the Brontë Sisters </i>and I’m so excited to share it now with readers!<o:p></o:p></div>
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My new novel is in presale on Amazon right now, and it's available for download on November 11th. You can read all about Jo Beth and Skylar's adventures with skiing and so much more. :)</div>
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<o:p> Click <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Bront%C3%AB-Sisters-Laurel-Osterkamp-ebook/dp/B076Z4Y1T9">here</a> to see the book on Amazon.</o:p></div>
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Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-39164253949244902202017-03-26T11:14:00.001-07:002017-03-26T11:14:25.888-07:00I'm Giving the Star System a Thumbs Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezLpzeOYHgH3MAuXBlqfy_96S8KYU18IhI2ct4FIRTwc0Wgtlq9Z5C-g1M3bhllw0uxNCmgiNW3p7EBXQ72tanZLxz0NWEB6YpkqrVX2ZqrLBuVQo1-1Uvf2UxXjkTX6mhUnGmSMjqp8/s1600/file3831269347533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezLpzeOYHgH3MAuXBlqfy_96S8KYU18IhI2ct4FIRTwc0Wgtlq9Z5C-g1M3bhllw0uxNCmgiNW3p7EBXQ72tanZLxz0NWEB6YpkqrVX2ZqrLBuVQo1-1Uvf2UxXjkTX6mhUnGmSMjqp8/s320/file3831269347533.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/netflix-thumbs-vs-stars-1202010492/">Netflix has adopted a new review system</a>, or rather an old-school, Siskel & Ebert inspired system, where they ditched the "one to five stars" option in favor of “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why? Netflix said that over time, they realized the average number of stars that something received didn't correlate to people's viewing habits. For example, documentaries get a lot of five star ratings and silly comedies usually receive three stars, but the comedies are way more popular in terms of what people actually watch. So really, a simple "thumbs up" or thumbs down" is a more effective way for viewers to express if something is worth their time to watch.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-d73ea983-0bae-7aab-d303-e4a0be3b29ca" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wish Amazon would switch to "thumbs up" or "thumbs down," because personal taste, by its very nature, is subjective. Most people rate things on whether or not it appeals to them, rather than objectively assessing its quality. For that reason, I hate the five star rating system. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can get bad reviews because my book was too short, or there wasn't enough romance, or someone didn't like the main character. Maybe these are all legitimate reasons not to like one of my books, but a bad review can cause serious repercussions. If your book has an average review rating that's below four stars, you can’t advertise on any of the premium sites and readers will automatically dismiss it. It’s so hard to get reviews in the first place, let alone lots of five stars reviews, but that’s the thing that can make or break the success of a novel. A simple "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" would make life a lot easier.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t think the reviewers (who aren’t authors themselves) realize their power. Why would they? And of course I appreciate anyone who has given my books a chance, and has taken the time to review it. But can I now just say my biggest pet peeve? It’s when a reviewer says in their review “3.5 Stars” but because they can only use whole numbers of stars, they round down. Ugh! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But on the other hand, I can understand their indecision.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been going to physical therapy lately, because I broke my elbow and now I have weeks and weeks and weeks of seemingly endless recovery where I have to try and bend my arm when it wants to stay frozen. And at every appointment, my therapist asks, “What’s your pain level?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s so hard to answer. Do I try to sound brave? I don’t want to downplay it. But a four for me might be a six, or a two, for somebody else. I always think too hard, and usually wind up answering, “3.5.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s so ridiculous. I should just commit to a three, or a four, or give in to being a wimp and say it’s a five. Or even better, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I should just be able to give my elbow a thumbs up or a thumbs down. This feeling must be pretty common. Netflix said they got 200% more reviews once they took the pressure off viewers to pick a star value and let people do "thumbs up" or "thumbs down."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trust me, it's the way go.</span></div>
Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-47258851578558612882016-10-29T18:00:00.000-07:002016-10-29T18:00:04.100-07:00A Nasty Woman Who Can't Seal the Deal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dlhPEJW_UHAoECFDHB_SxCDGQV07igKqCSaB-3YzTWaM0YJf9Uj_flr3IvB-Uaakf-IVg4tWKSh-qiyiWPU_msQnJeg3CDoLcNqWUO43oMhrFz92C7tQL4RIpp4Zy3CZK5La88jb5yI/s1600/nasty+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dlhPEJW_UHAoECFDHB_SxCDGQV07igKqCSaB-3YzTWaM0YJf9Uj_flr3IvB-Uaakf-IVg4tWKSh-qiyiWPU_msQnJeg3CDoLcNqWUO43oMhrFz92C7tQL4RIpp4Zy3CZK5La88jb5yI/s1600/nasty+woman.jpg" /></a></div>
Has it really come down to a bully in a <i>Make America Great Again </i>baseball cap? Click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-nasty-woman-who-cant-seal-deal.html">here</a> to find out.Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-1281200745149871962016-10-16T08:12:00.003-07:002016-10-16T08:12:50.709-07:00Sex, Lies, and ShacklesIs Monty cheating on Lucy? And how could things have sunk so low? Click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/10/sex-lies-and-shackles.html">Here</a> to read Sex, Lies, and Shackles to find out!Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-32908312072404591952016-10-08T12:30:00.000-07:002016-10-08T12:30:49.517-07:00Hot Mics and Lonely Nights<span id="goog_1809873453"></span><span id="goog_1809873454"></span><br />
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What do Lucy and Donald Trump have in common? Click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/10/hot-mics-and-lonely-nights.html">Here</a> to find out!Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-84370856773527050652016-10-05T17:02:00.002-07:002016-10-05T17:02:42.506-07:00Anyone's Game<br />
Win or lose, stay away from bullies. Read <i>Anyone's Game </i>on November Surprises Blog. Click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/10/anyones-game.html">Here</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-42145915960213150182016-09-18T12:52:00.002-07:002016-09-18T12:52:43.860-07:00Breaking News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGlfZDUd0gaOebxxdUk1PBrs_iUzJKnq4lO6Vh6Jk0X50eFhjh49aT8RDZmBFO9lKuvAYpA22nXnpu-obSMx4w8EG3ZhIGarB1ZkWL2utowT2xpZcxFeaq8Zjy757S17S-wu8oDS1LZw/s1600/breaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGlfZDUd0gaOebxxdUk1PBrs_iUzJKnq4lO6Vh6Jk0X50eFhjh49aT8RDZmBFO9lKuvAYpA22nXnpu-obSMx4w8EG3ZhIGarB1ZkWL2utowT2xpZcxFeaq8Zjy757S17S-wu8oDS1LZw/s320/breaking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Will Monty go back to Evelyn? Will CNN ever call Trump on all his staged antics? Find out on the latest November Surprises Blog post. Click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/09/breaking-news.html">here</a> to read "Breaking News."Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-38838937198082426062016-09-10T17:12:00.000-07:002016-09-10T17:12:04.601-07:00Thought on Audio Books and YOU WILL KNOW ME<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuLK0pZXG0fwqAi8v9zJ65qIe_CUzkhRggELIhZVV4zketRu2DifqrubnpQ510Q8DFzSXfmDqs9vc3i8rmMd5zdyLm9LORgpkZx-ON7tjOc-Crwmnac1NFXuvP8x_c2vO14h6Ts0CQzw/s1600/you+will+know+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuLK0pZXG0fwqAi8v9zJ65qIe_CUzkhRggELIhZVV4zketRu2DifqrubnpQ510Q8DFzSXfmDqs9vc3i8rmMd5zdyLm9LORgpkZx-ON7tjOc-Crwmnac1NFXuvP8x_c2vO14h6Ts0CQzw/s1600/you+will+know+me.jpg" /></a></div>
I've always felt that the best way to learn to write fiction is to read fiction. And while I will always be an avid reader, in the last couple of years I have grown more and more fond of listening to audio books as well. Maybe it's because I am forced to focus on every word, rather than skimming as I unintentionally do sometimes while reading. Maybe it's because I am always uninterrupted while listening to an audio book, even if it's just for a few minutes at a time. Having a book read to me is so informative and it really gets me thinking about plot structure, characterization, and prose. Usually I will listen on my drive to and from work, but in the last few weeks I have also listened to an audio book while going for my morning runs.<br />
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At the end of the summer I began <i>You Will Know Me, </i>by Meg Abbot. Every morning as I jogged through the blocks of my neighborhood, I listened to this pseudo-thriller about an Olympic-hopeful gymnast and her mother. It was usually pretty warm outside as I ran, it was always humid, and more often than not my knees hurt because I've been in the habit of running for nearly twenty years, and well, that takes a toll. But the story was good enough to keep me going. Abbot's use of description is jaw-droppingly good and had me thinking, "Wow, I don't use description well AT ALL." The more I read, the more I write, and the more I study writing, the more I am convinced that effectively conveying the big picture is done by focusing on the details, and Meg Abbot is nearly poetic in how she uses detail to create a picture and establish emotion. I was truly inspired.<br />
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The book got great reviews from places like the <i>New York Times</i> and other major publications, and slightly higher than mediocre reviews from readers on Amazon. Some say the story moves to slow. It's about Devon, a fourteen year old girl who wants to become an elite gymnast. Right as her last chance to do so comes up, a young man connected to the gym where she trains is murdered, and that has major implications for everyone involved. The plot centers around Devon's mother, Katie, and we are privy to her thoughts and actions throughout. While I wouldn't call the book slow, I did get frustrated at times that Katie was slow, not putting two and two together when anyone else would. I also saw the end coming, but that's okay. It was more about the getting there, and the getting there was done pretty well.<br />
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One tiny little rant though - I've noticed lately in several books that when a protagonist is a woman with a teenage daughter, the woman still can't be older than her mid-thirties. What's that about? In <i>You Will Know Me, </i>Katie and her husband Eric supposedly got married and had Devon by the time Katie was nineteen? Okay, but the rest of their back-story doesn't make sense: how they managed to buy a house, establish a career without ever going to school, remember past relationships, etc. It was just unnecessary. Why is it so horrible to have a female protagonist over forty?<br />
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And one other thing: SPOILER ALERT! Don't read this part if you don't want the ending ruined.<br />
Once we finally found out that Devon was in a relationship with hot-guy Ryan, we still never really know what he saw in her. He was twenty-three and in a relationship with a very attractive woman his own age. Devon was fifteen and hadn't even hit puberty, due to her gymnastics career. Meg Abbot really needed to give more information on how that worked, because I JUST DIDN'T BUY IT.Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-62939629123238688512016-09-10T16:05:00.002-07:002016-09-10T16:05:58.521-07:00But Civil is Boring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's another post on November Surprises Blog! For more about Monty's dinner with Evelyn, click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/09/but-civil-is-boring.html">here.</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-6750994678666817782016-09-06T03:52:00.001-07:002016-09-06T03:52:44.302-07:00Fact Checking and Foreboding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU9chRV7T3gQQHM6Masc47lgpc6VPDBi7IfG6O6mfXU15aLyXSko3aQ2fInbByJu-1mvLjBnWUYkzBdZddF0tFBBA3rrjQE2XC7A3Ixf0pQwU3pOY9EsBF25UOuxBAXuStl8dcHyrAa0/s1600/nov+banner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU9chRV7T3gQQHM6Masc47lgpc6VPDBi7IfG6O6mfXU15aLyXSko3aQ2fInbByJu-1mvLjBnWUYkzBdZddF0tFBBA3rrjQE2XC7A3Ixf0pQwU3pOY9EsBF25UOuxBAXuStl8dcHyrAa0/s1600/nov+banner.gif" /></a></div>
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There's a new post on November Surprises blog! Has someone unwelcome entered into Lucy's life? To find out, read "Fact Checking and Foreboding" by clicking <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/09/fact-checking-and-foreboding.html">Here.</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-612145702774222732016-08-02T15:11:00.002-07:002016-08-02T15:11:59.929-07:00Onesies and Wikileaks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvKlXf0h6koYQuCVGb1S2kBGk2fKrfb0j9hW0dne0yGgns_riLnsqdN5217jnf7wbWLZOgjhqbAqye1Y81y1SWBowwELh8JmbycVIJt4uX0G4wol1IJCtc2IZEenKIVhUZn9nxazbcA8/s1600/polka-dot-onesie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvKlXf0h6koYQuCVGb1S2kBGk2fKrfb0j9hW0dne0yGgns_riLnsqdN5217jnf7wbWLZOgjhqbAqye1Y81y1SWBowwELh8JmbycVIJt4uX0G4wol1IJCtc2IZEenKIVhUZn9nxazbcA8/s320/polka-dot-onesie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's a new post on November Surprises Blog! To read about leaks, hacks, and baby clothes, click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/08/onesies-and-wikileaks.html">here.</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-15901067355583721412016-07-22T18:17:00.003-07:002016-07-22T18:17:55.157-07:00Morning Sickness in America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CAkUFIWo99c4HN7PRHjwrREis9LPFC4zqPlDTyVsMBrcQzZXpYCaW1yd4KKK8rT3P001bfUh9KKuq7QsSsdyQaLCD064W_ldLrjAyivWK1puwun0IKfe6JifVCfNoDlWchnfZEuBFFg/s1600/_DSC5382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CAkUFIWo99c4HN7PRHjwrREis9LPFC4zqPlDTyVsMBrcQzZXpYCaW1yd4KKK8rT3P001bfUh9KKuq7QsSsdyQaLCD064W_ldLrjAyivWK1puwun0IKfe6JifVCfNoDlWchnfZEuBFFg/s320/_DSC5382.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally! There's a new post on November Surprises blog! Read about Lucy's reaction to the RNC - oh - and somebody's PREGNANT!<br />
Click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/07/morning-sickness-in-america.html">here</a> to find out more!Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-4584396081211169982016-02-03T03:34:00.002-08:002016-02-03T03:34:50.793-08:00The Holdout is FREE Today!<div id="fb-root">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp/posts/883677448418495:0">
Tired of snow and winter? The Holdout is FREE for TODAY ONLY, and it's a great cure for winter blues. Download off of Amazon by clicking <a href="http://tinyurl.com/gnmkeg6">here.</a><br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp/">Laurel Osterkamp</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp/posts/883677448418495:0">Wednesday, February 3, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-19022492526440336302016-01-27T03:53:00.001-08:002016-01-27T03:53:23.842-08:00November Surprise is Free Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Read my most romantic novel, November Surprise, for FREE today! If you think current presidential politics are any crazier than what we've had in the past - well, you're probably right - but take a trip down memory lane nonetheless, in this love story with a liberal, political edge. Download it for FREE by clicking <a href="http://tinyurl.com/zh82b3q">here.</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-5448702396806817962016-01-23T14:47:00.003-08:002016-01-23T14:47:29.603-08:00The 'C' Words: Conflict, Confrontation, and Caucus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a new post on November Surprises Blog. Read "The 'C' Words: Conflict, Confrontation, and Caucus" by clicking <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-c-words-conflict-confrontation-and.html">here.</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-40262340371319689522016-01-09T07:05:00.000-08:002016-01-09T07:05:01.364-08:00From Reading to Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before I became a writer, I was a reader. All writers are
readers; it’s a prerequisite. I received my first training from the wall of YA
books at our town library, and my hours of enjoyment only barely exceeded what
I learned. The stories I chose were always about a strong female protagonist
trying to figure out her place in the world. As I grew up, I never lost my love
for reading. That love eventually led to my writing a novel myself, and all my
books feature a resilient heroine on a path of self-discovery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But when I started writing my first novel, I couldn’t shut
up my inner-critic. “You can’t do this,” I’d tell myself. “You’re going to make
a fool of yourself by trying.” It was a constant diatribe in my mind, until
finally I got fed up. “Look,” I told myself. “You can spend a lot of time and
energy trying to convince yourself that you can’t write a novel, or you can
just write one.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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I chose option two.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I made a commitment to write 500 words a day. I stuck to
that, and after a few months, I had my first draft. Yes, it needed a lot of
revision, but it had potential. My first book, <i>Following My Toes</i>, eventually won the Indie Excellence Award for
Chick Lit in 2008. It also got more than 20,000 paid downloads on Amazon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, three and a half years ago, I got jury duty. This was
two full-length novels and one novella after <i>Following My Toes</i>, and I’d become a writing/publishing junkie. As
soon as I got on that jury, I started thinking about how I could use the
experience for my next project. I also enjoyed watching the TV show <i>Survivor</i>, so I came up with the idea of
a young woman who is embarrassed by her performance on a reality TV show, and
gets jury duty when she comes home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I fell in love with my main character, Robin, and after <i>The Holdout</i> was finished, I couldn’t
just stop writing about her. So I wrote <i>The
Next Breath</i> – and I used my years of theater training as inspiration, along
with a lot of research about cystic fibrosis.<i> </i>But Robin’s story still didn’t feel finished, so I wrote <i>The Standout</i> . During that time I really
enjoyed reading books like <i>Gone Girl</i>
and <i>Girl on a Train</i>, so I decided to
try my hand at writing a thriller. The joy in self-publishing is the freedom to
experiment. If I read something that I really like, I can take a crack at
writing something in the same genre. Of course, the story and the themes have
to be my own; I wouldn’t have it any other way! But like I said, the most
valuable writing lessons I’ve ever received have been from reading. When I read
something that REALLY WORKS, I examine it, and then I use what I’ve learned in
my own writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And learning has never been more fun!<o:p></o:p></div>
Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-28598384520628981362016-01-03T11:01:00.001-08:002016-01-03T11:01:59.047-08:00The Bone Clocks<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW_3wCIc2CB3vXG7Pc01g4wLfcEyzWfniKPQiZ_n6jH-7LOM5iI7EVnJAx1mFzhTTHlUsP_eEd9daR3yRPmRHuUaWx84_4oUMPEQHXh76lFA-oVnWClQ8vhMAZwKJvwVbADGMpC1azkc/s1600/bone+clocks+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW_3wCIc2CB3vXG7Pc01g4wLfcEyzWfniKPQiZ_n6jH-7LOM5iI7EVnJAx1mFzhTTHlUsP_eEd9daR3yRPmRHuUaWx84_4oUMPEQHXh76lFA-oVnWClQ8vhMAZwKJvwVbADGMpC1azkc/s1600/bone+clocks+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had never read anything by David Mitchell before <i>The Bone Clocks </i>and I picked it because Audible had it on sale and I thought it sounded interesting. The story is about Holly Sykes, and when the book begins she is a teenager in 1980s England. She runs away from home after a fight with her mother, and soon encounters all sorts of craziness. It turns out that Holly is a "singular" sort of young lady, meaning that she has psychic abilities and she's attracted forces of both good and evil.<br />
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Then her younger brother Jacko goes missing, which is really the inciting incident of the whole story, for Jacko's disappearance sets a much broader battle into motion, although it will take years for this battle to come to fruition.<br />
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The first chapter is from Holly's POV, which I liked quite a bit. Mitchell did a good job of writing in a teen girl's voice, and Holly is tough, no-nonsense, yet very likable. The other chapters are all from other character's POVs, until the end, when it switches back to a 74-year-old Holly living in a post apocalypse Ireland. Although it's not always clear at the beginning of each chapter, eventually the reader understands what the new narrator's connection is with Holly, and how their interactions with her seems to bring out the best of their personalites.<br />
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There is also always a bigger theme, about life and death, and the meaning of our daily actions and interactions. We are all "bone clocks" - ticking time bombs, waiting to die. But at what price comes immortality? As Holly discovers, it is our love and generosity, and our willingness to sacrifice for others, that gives life meaning, and that's something that all the characters must contemplate at some point in this epic novel.<br />
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I really liked <i>The Bone Clocks</i>. David Mitchell has defied genre by making it part fantasy, part drama, and part social commentary. His characters are not always likable (although Cripsin Hershey really grew on me) but they are always redeemable. While I started out listening to it on audio, eventually I switched to reading it, and I'm glad I did. There were many passages I read over and over, because they left me with a lot to think about. I saw one book review headline, that <i>The Bone Clocks </i>is mostly empty calories, but I couldn't disagree more. It's not difficult reading, but after you ingest it, you're full for a long time.Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-39673290746504271652015-12-19T11:17:00.002-08:002015-12-19T11:17:43.604-08:00Kindle Quest 2015: Help for The Haunted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMHoXFgmNWlzSG6mnzbr3VHDdAUo1AT5ov0UwZU4QJavLElc2SKK93T7t69LvJaO8t1EGfd7MhbA5Y1dhkxD6FZ6rI26OUEIWNnP_NEiI3lqHDvCmdbzvfLO5lqcn6p2hIRQWnTHUrdI/s1600/help+for+the+haunted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMHoXFgmNWlzSG6mnzbr3VHDdAUo1AT5ov0UwZU4QJavLElc2SKK93T7t69LvJaO8t1EGfd7MhbA5Y1dhkxD6FZ6rI26OUEIWNnP_NEiI3lqHDvCmdbzvfLO5lqcn6p2hIRQWnTHUrdI/s1600/help+for+the+haunted.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Help for The Haunted </i>has
been on my kindle for over a year. I think I found it on BookBub for $1.99. I’d
been meaning to read it for some time, and I decided to finally start because I’m
interested in writing a ghost story, and I thought might benefit from reading
what looked to be a promising novel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I wasn’t disappointed. It takes place in 1980s New England,
where Sylvie is trying to come to terms with her parent’s murder. Sylvie’s mother was “gifted” – she could pray
for haunted souls and somehow bring them peace. Sylvie’s father also worked in
the paranormal, and together they provided “help for the haunted.” But shortly
before they’re murdered, a book is released about them that calls their
integrity into question. Plus, they’re having HUGE trouble with their older
daughter, Rose, and the dad of one of the girls they supposedly helped is very
bitter towards them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So Sylvie thinks she knows what happened. Then, she realizes
how little she knows, but she also gets that she is the only one who can find
out. Sylvie narrates this story, and her character is merely middle-school age.
Yet Sylvie is very wise – “special” – like her mother was, and she comes to
question not just her upbringing, but everything she once believed to be true.
This is a ghost story for sure, but it’s one that questions whether or not
ghosts exist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I liked this story, and I thought the twist at the end was
well done. I did think the pacing was pretty slow; the chapters were very long
and it took a while to get to the exciting part. The build-up was drawn out, so
it’s a good thing that there was payoff at the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sylvie was a great character, and John Searle’s writing is
quite skilled. If you’re looking for a creepy, sometimes disturbing, sometimes
uplifting story, try <i>Help for The
Haunted.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-65248120862092371782015-12-13T14:08:00.002-08:002015-12-13T14:08:53.130-08:00Woman-Child <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzQextw_5zbQrViaEdHKXk5ii6MrVUhzoARYeYMukJjqQ5kPSxvsTSNqvpUyO-SkC1uhyphenhyphenh_INu_zbuAQIgZkAe0x2SHOFUvbgdFCaAZa7bByzyWzKQyQUEeWMeXODXromUxsBNAVBYcw/s1600/january-cover-w352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzQextw_5zbQrViaEdHKXk5ii6MrVUhzoARYeYMukJjqQ5kPSxvsTSNqvpUyO-SkC1uhyphenhyphenh_INu_zbuAQIgZkAe0x2SHOFUvbgdFCaAZa7bByzyWzKQyQUEeWMeXODXromUxsBNAVBYcw/s320/january-cover-w352.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
In the latest issue of Glamour, Tina Fey talks about her most recent role in the movie, <i>Sisters</i>: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;">Woman-child, I think, is in reference to the fact that there are many male comedians who play man-childs—</span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;">man-childs</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;"> is a word. I do think it’s fun to be able to play a character that’s in no way aspirational and in no way a role model, and the more female characters there are on-screen, there’s less pressure on every character to represent everyone. I love playing people who are flawed."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;">I think she makes an interesting point.Whether it's books, movies, or TV, there is more pressure for female characters to be inspirational and ground breaking. Why is "man-child" even a word, but "woman-child" has just been made up? Comedians like Mindy Kaling and Amy Schumer have also recently played woman-child characters, so maybe it's becoming more of a thing.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;">On a different note, I recently got into a debate with my husband. I said that Katniss Everdeen was one of the meatiest female literary characters, ever. He disagreed, so I was like - okay, then who? He said Juliet and Lady Macbeth, but my cynical laughter quickly shut him down.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;">"They are simply there to support the male protagonist," I said. "I'm talking about female characters whose primary objective is not to be with, or to assist, a man."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;">Then he asked me for some other examples, and I had a hard time coming up with any. Scarlet O'Hara?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.0001px;">Maybe I'm just out of touch. Are things getting better, and more equal, for female roles/literary characters? What do you think?</span><br />
<br />Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-64635550637444536712015-12-07T17:32:00.002-08:002015-12-07T17:32:30.133-08:00The Standout Blog Tour Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZennxamYWoYC_iZIr9j6ClN438G2jLUKRxN3Oort4D83iKCQFoHkcbohH8MOORozZ6AIVdDj7UcWte2DPYwPii7IAQwpNglp-aS7Scz6mBD5Sj_rWD9W-clands161rs9LncB_zNumg/s1600/Standout_Banner-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZennxamYWoYC_iZIr9j6ClN438G2jLUKRxN3Oort4D83iKCQFoHkcbohH8MOORozZ6AIVdDj7UcWte2DPYwPii7IAQwpNglp-aS7Scz6mBD5Sj_rWD9W-clands161rs9LncB_zNumg/s320/Standout_Banner-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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CBB Promotions is hosting a blog tour for The Standout, and it started today! You can read reviews, excerpts, interviews, and guest posts, plus, you can enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Super Cool!!<br />
<br />
For the full tour schedule, visit my blog tour page at CBB Promotions. Click <a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/blog-tour-sign-up-the-standout-by-laurel-osterkamp-dec-7-18/">here.</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-58541582889332693052015-12-05T11:20:00.001-08:002015-12-05T11:20:58.019-08:00How Important Is The First Line?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3SiOFxsrw6FJRCQznc3mW1n-TYgV9UekU9Eoga9Ie4NTtzcADIZpwGN9gmws8G65j_2870YA-nDTYf1dfZIpYINJlugQ5TRlj7u9QLVu64nVI9bzhMrSskOwtSD9CJ3lTAMtz6zN508/s1600/5785-abstract.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3SiOFxsrw6FJRCQznc3mW1n-TYgV9UekU9Eoga9Ie4NTtzcADIZpwGN9gmws8G65j_2870YA-nDTYf1dfZIpYINJlugQ5TRlj7u9QLVu64nVI9bzhMrSskOwtSD9CJ3lTAMtz6zN508/s320/5785-abstract.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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“The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been
dead for several weeks before we came to realize the gravity of our situation.”
(<i>Secret History, </i>1)<o:p></o:p></div>
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That is the first line of one of my favorite novels of all
time. <i>The Secret History</i> is also one
of the most successful novels ever, and it launched the career of Donna Tartt,
who went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for her most recent book, <i>The Goldfinch. </i>I love that first line
because it immediately drew me in. I’m wondering who Bunny is, and why did he
die? I know the story takes place during winter, in the mountains, and I’m
curious who this “we” is that the narrator speaks of, and what, exactly, is their
situation?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve heard that the first line is the most important line of
your novel, and if it’s not absolutely fabulous, with a huge, explosive impact, agents and publishers will
stop reading immediately. I find this sort of hard to believe, because I’ve
read lots of novels with lackluster first lines, yet they turned out to be good
books, nonetheless. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Still, as a writer I feel that first-line pressure. The
first line of <i>The Standout</i> is “I
wanted to jump, but I didn’t have the guts.” I guess this line was interesting
enough to keep people reading, because my book got a nice amount of nominations
on Kindle Scout, and it won a publishing contract. But I doubt it will go down
in history of best first lines ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s a difficult balance. This week a story I wrote was
being workshopped in the grad-school class I’m taking. Actually, it’s the first
chapter of a novel, about a woman whose sister dies. I reveal that this sister
dies right away. The revelation isn’t in the first line, but in the first paragraph, and
that’s been the major criticism so far. They say it ruins the suspense. Since
the sister dying is merely the inciting incident that leads to a much bigger,
more suspenseful storyline, I figured it was okay. I mean, you have to draw
your readers in immediately, right? But maybe I’m doing it wrong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the same class, we had an assignment to come up with
five “first lines” of novels or stories. Here are mine:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Even before I opened that manila envelope, I
knew my instructions would be to kill Tania, my one true love.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Abby can’t say what compelled her up those
rickety old steps, through the crooked, unstable door and into that abandoned
house, only to find a box of Stephen’s childhood photos.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">First I smell the evergreens, then I open my
eyes and see pine needles looming above me; is it sap that covers my naked body
with mucous, or is it something more sinister?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I never believed I could kill so carelessly, but
things happen, and now I’ll never be free again.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Joanne used to laugh when Ryan said he knew
voodoo, but that was before she dumped him, before she woke up the next day
with appendicitis, before she inexplicably went blind in her left eye.</span></li>
</ul>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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My instructor liked the last one best. If anyone would like
to comment, I’d love to know your opinion. How important is the first line of a
novel? Should it reveal the action, or does that ruin the suspense?<o:p></o:p></div>
Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-91090520228235167092015-11-28T16:21:00.002-08:002015-11-28T16:21:58.540-08:00Freedom, Ben Carson, and Giving Thanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bh098pCLtRH-UNUV0Dagtv14IRBxUs4NMIjIoW4eM_7EALj42uHvZE8JOL9TZ2_n93Z_GmaJZTmnk_lrRwrttkMhfYaO-DKbYJNp-DZRA_st-NMDR16JM895IUgodlTGx3wUnwBoVp4/s1600/family+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bh098pCLtRH-UNUV0Dagtv14IRBxUs4NMIjIoW4eM_7EALj42uHvZE8JOL9TZ2_n93Z_GmaJZTmnk_lrRwrttkMhfYaO-DKbYJNp-DZRA_st-NMDR16JM895IUgodlTGx3wUnwBoVp4/s320/family+dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There's a new post on November Surprises, Lucy's Political Blog. To read about her Thanksgiving, click <a href="http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/2015/11/freedom-ben-carson-and-giving-thanks.html">here.</a>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-46697639785180555232015-11-06T00:00:00.000-08:002015-11-06T03:38:28.251-08:00The Next Breath vs The Fault in Our Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpE6NTAQki-_qzTwgM7e0_PV3HCXrcAI6xeY73CzO8mffAvN-W4_NxUJ8SCvPL8xAxVw2RQtb7Bh4KAVyGjw67T56MrFjo9ZfNkdprPdzYnpL7iJuS9vrpcgTwTg8pG23hU6gSW2a5_s/s1600/paper-town-at-night-913-1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpE6NTAQki-_qzTwgM7e0_PV3HCXrcAI6xeY73CzO8mffAvN-W4_NxUJ8SCvPL8xAxVw2RQtb7Bh4KAVyGjw67T56MrFjo9ZfNkdprPdzYnpL7iJuS9vrpcgTwTg8pG23hU6gSW2a5_s/s200/paper-town-at-night-913-1280.jpg" /></a></div>
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So yeah, I read <i>The
Fault is in Our Stars</i>, and I loved it. I laughed, I cried, and I asked
myself over and over, “How can I write a book this good?” Of course, this
question led me to an unfortunate answer. I am not John Green, and thus do not
have his sense of humor, his philosophy of life, his life experience, nor his
unique perspective. So I can’t write a book like he wrote, but I decided I <i>could</i> write a book about life, loss, and
love, only through my own personal lens.</div>
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I believe that being alive qualifies me to write a book
about life, and I’m in love with my husband and my children, so that area is
covered too. But loss? I’ve been pretty lucky, actually. Of course, there have
been tough times and depressing periods, when it seemed there was no way past
whatever obstacle I faced. I can also remember being a teenager, to have that
raw feeling of wanting everything. I believed nothing was impossible and my
number one fear was that my “real life” would never begin. I recalled that while
I wrote <i>The Next Breath</i>, and I pictured
being young but knowing my days were numbered. I imagined falling in love for
the first time, with a beautiful boy who had lungs that failed him.</div>
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Robin, my main character in <i>The Next Breath</i> is very healthy and exceedingly strong. Her
strength is both her biggest burden and her greatest strength. She doesn’t
always realize how strong she is, but it is through her strength that she is
able to love and stay with Jed, who is not healthy. Years later, it is also through
her strength that she finally confronts the demons that came with losing him.</div>
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But there are lots of novels with characters like Robin,
right? So I asked myself, “How do I make this story unique?” First, I decided
to use humor whenever I could. Jed reminds Robin that “Comedy is tragedy, plus
timing,” and I couldn’t agree more. Whether she’s going for her morning run,
competing with her siblings in a one-armed game of pool, getting breakup hair,
or simply ruminating on her life, Robin is always finding humor in her
situation.</div>
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Another way I decided to make <i>The Next Breath </i>unique was by drawing from my own experiences. I
majored in theater in college, and I spent years acting and performing. It was
fun to remember that time of my life, but writing “Jed’s” play was tough; it
had to be profound, emotional, and well-written. It had to be a satisfying way
to complete Robin’s character arc. Oh, and it had to make sense. But I knew if
I could achieve all that, I would have written a book like no other. It would
be a book that I could be proud was uniquely my own.</div>
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Finally, I did a lot of research. Jed had cystic fibrosis. I
wanted to describe his disease accurately, so I read a lot of personal accounts
of what it’s like to have CF. Eva Markvoort’s blog, 65_Red Roses, was
especially compelling and descriptive.
She was so tough, honest, and loving. She was committed to living life
fully, for however long she had. And, she was generous enough to describe her
life so vividly, that I, along with many others, felt like I knew her just by
reading her blog. </div>
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I tried to give Jed some of her fortitude, wisdom, and
kindness. I felt like a better person for having “known” Eva Markvoort through
her writing, and I aimed to make Robin a better person for having known Jed.</div>
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So that’s the story of how I didn’t write <i>The Fault is in Our Stars</i>, but how I did
grow and learn while I wrote <i>The Next
Breath.</i> And that, if nothing else, makes me happy.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>The countdown to <i>The Standout</i>'s November 10th release has begun! To celebrate, <i>The Next Breath</i> is only 99 cents, but this price won't last! Download your copy today, because tomorrow it's back to $3.99!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Next-Breath-Robin-Bricker-Novel-ebook/dp/B00NIDCJSC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1446778861&sr=8-5&keywords=laurel+osterkamp">HERE</a> to download <i>The Next Breath </i>(which received Honorable Mention for Women's Fiction in the 2015 RONE Awards!)</b></span></div>
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Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-41623916187881639342015-11-05T03:36:00.000-08:002015-11-05T03:36:20.605-08:00Download The Holdout for FREE - 11/5 and 11/6!<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp/posts/840149346104639" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp/posts/840149346104639"><p>It's just five more days until the official release of The Standout. To celebrate the countdown, The Holdout is FREE on...</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp/">Laurel Osterkamp</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp/posts/840149346104639">Thursday, November 5, 2015</a></blockquote></div></div>Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195613290888284554.post-74848061349395757662015-10-26T17:03:00.002-07:002015-10-26T17:03:59.404-07:00Kindle Scout Diary - Pre-Sale Page and Purple Italian Boots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsSb8jwzkhQicgDUCYWPckKB7M5r9Bhi9RamUn5UPZBSEH-Jt-oU0gW5Dj2TqeSlkv6cSAIg59I9pVEOfHb9LyzvlPUlFwk1okR4kcIspIm-b3vGkpl7jNoUQj0nUydH9GZeYRhwKUa0/s1600/20151026_174324_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsSb8jwzkhQicgDUCYWPckKB7M5r9Bhi9RamUn5UPZBSEH-Jt-oU0gW5Dj2TqeSlkv6cSAIg59I9pVEOfHb9LyzvlPUlFwk1okR4kcIspIm-b3vGkpl7jNoUQj0nUydH9GZeYRhwKUa0/s320/20151026_174324_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
When I started my Kindle Scout campaign, I wore my new purple Birkenstocks for good luck. I guess it worked, since <i>The Standout </i>was selected. I decided it's the color. So on any landmark day, my footwear will be purple. Luckily, I have new purple boots, from Italy no less! (I did not go to Italy myself, they were a gift from my Mom and Stepdad.)<br />
Anyway, the pre-sale page for <i>The Standout</i> is up. If you nominated it, you can download your free copy now!<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Standout-Robin-Bricker-Novel-ebook/dp/B01678FMWY/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1445900900&sr=8-8&keywords=laurel+osterkamp">Click here right now and do it!</a><br />
<br />Laurel Osterkamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02480068478927892873noreply@blogger.com0